With ongoing uncertainty for Dubai, Singapore Airlines is deploying its Airbus A380 on the Melbourne route again from next week, for the first time in nearly three years.
Singapore Airlines has confirmed that its Airbus A380 will return to the Singapore – Melbourne route from 29th March to 24th October 2026, replacing the Boeing 777-300ER on flights SQ237 and SQ228 for the northern summer season.
It’s been a while since the carrier’s superjumbo has graced Tullamarine Airport, and this short-notice deployment appears to be a consequence of the ongoing disruption to the airline’s Dubai services.
The carrier has simultaneously extended the suspension of flights SQ494 and SQ495 between Singapore and Dubai to at least 30th April 2026, citing the geopolitical situation in the Middle East – a reference to the continuing Iran conflict.
That’s a further pushback from the 22nd March restart date that had already been delayed once, and it means the planned Airbus A380 upgauge on Dubai flights, which we’ve covered extensively, remains on ice for even longer.
Melbourne gets the A380
With the Dubai A380 commitment effectively shelved for now, the airline has found a new home for the aircraft on daily Melbourne services.
It’s a route that last saw the airline’s superjumbo during the northern summer 2023 season, almost three years ago, so many will be pleased to see it back on another Australian route.
From 29 March to 24 October 2026, SIA will operate the Airbus A380 on flights SQ237 and SQ228 between Singapore and Melbourne to meet increased demand. This will replace the Boeing 777-300ER on this service during this period.
Singapore Airlines
The deployment brings SIA’s full premium offering to the route, including its six Suites and 2017 Business Class product, with a total of 471 seats versus the 264 on the 777-300ER it replaces.
The schedule
Here’s the schedule for SIA’s Airbus A380 on the Singapore – Melbourne route, in addition to the four other daily services on this city pair.
